James Bond review - You only live.... Once really.

There might be a few spoilers in this review... you have been warned.

When I watch a new Bond, I have my notebook at the ready to take write down all of the key quote, plotlines and observations. I showed these notes to Pete the other day, he started to giggle at a few things I had written about You Only Live Twice. 

My top notes were:

• SPACE
• Screen play by Roald Dahl?!
• Little Nellie
• MONORAIL
• Friggin Ninjas

From it’s start in space, I knew this Bond film was going to be pretty epic and end up at at the top of my favourite Bond list. 

Before the title sequence has rolled, we are thrown into the story with a US Space capsule mysteriously disappearing and World War 3 nearly erupting as the US blame their Russian enemies. We also find our lovable hero in Hong Kong on a romantic encounter with a Chinese women when he is mysteriously assassinated in front of our very eyes. This scene also included one of Pete’s favourite lines - “You give good duck, Mr Bond.”

What also surprised me at the beginning was seeing Roald Dahl’s name on screen. The only things I knew he had written were his children's books, but it was great to see his name associated with this film.

The film includes some epic fight scenes. I’m don’t want to give away more of the story, but after Bond is chased from the Osato Chemicals, we see the enemies car lifted off the road by a helicopter wielding a giant magnet. This was pretty cool!

But more excitingly we are introduced to “Little Nelly”. When the contraption is first mentioned, I had no idea what he was referring too. Later on, with the return of Q, we are introduced to one of my favourite Bond gadgets, which I think is even better than the jet pack in Thunderball; the gun laden mini helicopter. The fight scene involving this little baby and four gunships is brilliant.

One of things I like about this film is that it is quite different to the other films in terms of locations. We have been to tropical islands in Dr. No and around the US with Goldfinger, but it was interesting to see James explore a totally different culture. I love the rapport he builds with Tiger and especially his scenes with Aki. It’s so sad when tragedy strikes. :(

This film also sees the introduction of one of the biggest villains from SPECTRE, who has been mentioned several times before, but we have never seen. We actually don’t see him to till the very end of the film, but he is a brilliant villain. His headquarters are in a frigging volcano that includes a bloody monorail (I love a good monorail). The final fight scene of this film is brilliant in terms of scale and destruction!

There are too many awesome parts of this film to mention, but I this is definitely at the top of my list to watch again. It was a great film, with a good story. Welcome back, Mr Bond.

I gave it 8/10.

What did you think? Is this your favourite Bond? Let me know in the comments below.

Thunder what? Oh... Thunderball

I’m going to be very frank from the start and say that this was not one of my favourite Bond films. After the amazing Goldfinger, I was left feeling a bit down after watching this. To me, it felt like a really, really rushed film with an excessive use of swipe cuts trying to bring the story together (my inner Media Studies student is coming out!). It was also all about the never ending fight scenes. The last scene with the scuba fight is great for the time, but it goes on and on and on....

One of my favourite moments of this film was right at the beginning when James Bond dons a Jet Pack and flies out of trouble. I mean, A BLOODY JET PACK. Another good point of this film is the fact that Sean Connery spends most of this film jumping in and out of water in a pair of blue swimming trunks. But all this jumping in and out of the water is very reminiscent of From Russia with Love and that whole section in the train carriage.

The Bond charm from the first three films has also crossed the fine line from charming to harassment. The scene in the health spa when he forces the nurse in charge of him to sleep with him made me cringe really. This is not Bond, he can charm a women, but he would never force them to bed him.

So all in all, I really didn’t like this Bond, one of the only saving graces was the great soundtrack provided by the one and only Tom Jones! Let’s hope that You Only Live Twice brings things back on track.

I give this film 5/10

Am I wrong, did I miss something? What did you think? Please add your comments below!

#FridayPop - Geri Halliwell

Friday is my favourite day of the week. Firstly this is because it’s the last day of the working week. Secondly it means that the next episode of Doctor Who is only one night away. Lastly it’s because I get to play my #FridayPop playlist!

After watching lots of The Big Reunion, I was inspired to make a playlist featuring some of my favorite songs from the pop stars of the later 90’s and early 00’s. I had a lot of fun going on an adventure through spotify and reminding myself some great artists that took the UK Charts by storm. It’s amazing what you can find...

If you want to join me on a Friday, take a look at the playlist here:
http://

Think I’ve missed a track? Tell me in the comments below or add them to this Spotify playlist - Your #FridayPop . If I like them, I will add them.

Anyway, each week on the blog, I thought I would remind you of some great pop hits from some of the greatest pop stars of my teens. I’m going to kick things off with the one and only Geri Halliwell.

Geri left the Spice Girls in 1998, just after the phenomenon that was Spice World the Movie and before the girls released “Viva Forever” from the Spice World album. It was a sad time in British pop and the news took the world by storm.

But the sadness didn’t last for long as Geri returned to our radios in 1999 with the lead single from her debut solo album Schizophonic, “Look At Me”. The pop hit made us fall in love our favourite ginger again. Remember the video? Take a look here:



I’ve been a huge fan of the Brit Awards for many years now. For me, one of the most memorable moments of my teenage years was when Geri performed ”Bag It Up” at the ceremony in 2000 and  emerged from a giant pair of inflatable legs. Remember it?



If you start singing “Bag It Up” in your office, I swear you could get a sing-a-long started in just a few moments. One day I might try and see if it works on the tube!

These two songs along with our favourite Spanish classic “Mi Chico Latino” appear on the #FridayPop playlist. Even though there were some other great pop songs from Geri on her two following albums Scream If You Wanna Go Faster and Passion, these are my three favourite tracks.

Most of my friends have given me a very judgmental look when I mention how much I have been listening to these tracks again. They really get stuck in your head and I often find myself humming them or trying not to start dancing around my flat. I just have to be careful that I don’t start singing them on the tube. Geri, even for her weird and wonderful ways will always hold a special place in my pop heart. These are definitely some songs that I will be playing to my future nieces and nephews! God help them!

What do you think? Is your office now singing "Bag It Up"? Tell me in the comments below!

Man of Steel - Official Trailer 3

Wow, just wow!

With an epic score by Hans Zimmer, I've got tingles down my spine. 

If you get a chance today...watch it.

Now that is a Goldfinger

With an extravagant villain, Nazi gold, a Bond girl called “Pussy” who runs a flying circus and Q returns with his amazing spy car, Bond is really back!

If you cannot tell already, I really liked this Bond film. The storyline was really interesting and very different to the first two films. James knows who the enemy is, but gets close to him to find out more without the need to hunt him down and kill him.

Pussy Galore, was a perfect Bond girl for me. She was passionate, determined and strong minded. She was a perfect match for James Bond. In the original book by Ian Fleming, Pussy Galore was a lesbian. Honor Blackman was a perfect choice for this character, especially after her stint in The Avengers. Apparently producers were so determined for her to be in the film that they even wrote in her Judo ability. Honor was also the oldest women to play a Bond girls, as she was 37 at the time of filming.

Goldfinger was also a great villain. He knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. His base was even more amazing, with lasers and moving walls. He had extravagant plans to steal the gold reserve at Fort Knox. It’s the type of grand plan that makes a bond film very interesting. I also loved his assistant Odd Job.

One of my favourite scenes is when James is strapped to a table and about to be killed by a laser. The classic exchange between James Bond and Goldfinger was brilliant.

James Bond - “Do you expect me to talk?”

Goldfinger - “No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die”

As mentioned before, this is the film when the real spy gadgets come into play. The great banter between James Bond and Q is what you know and love about them. The car is also amazing. A beautiful Aston Martin DB5. Originally this was going to be an E-Type Jaguar, but they decided not to take part in the film. To be honest, I think they made a better choice with this iconic car.

I loved this film, it is my favourite Bond film so far! I will definitely be watching this one Bank Holiday weekend.

I give it 9/10

But what do you think? Is this your favourite one too? Please put your comments below

Steve Whiting

From Russia with No Love

After how much I loved Dr. No, I was expecting a lot from this film, unfortunately I was left a bit disappointed.

I felt that this is when James Bond got a little too serious. The lightheartedness of the first film never really materialised for me here. It was a more serious spy thriller, which was probably very similar to most films of the same time.

The story was quite complex and I found my mind wandering instead of concentrating on what was going on. They seemed to be spending a lot of time in an out of a train cabin. However, the fight in the sleeper car at the end was great.

I found the ‘Bond girl’ in this film really annoying. She was very weak and naive. One moment she would say that she was in love with James and then she would be trying to get secrets out of him. You could tell that James was only with her for the sake of the missions, not because he actually liked her. In my honest opinion, she should have been locked in that train carriage for most of the film!

It was though, the first introduction of spy gadgets with the amazing suitcase. As we all know who 'Q' is, you think it’s him that walks in when Bond is in M’s office, but it is actually a totally different character.

After watching this, I hope that Goldfinger will actually get me back into the swing of things.

I give this film 4/10

But what do you think? Did you like it more than me? Leave your comments below.

Steve Whiting

It starts with Dr. No

Borrowed from Jamesbond-shop.com

Dr. No. is the film that starts off the 50 year phenomenon that is James Bond. For me, it’s what a Bond film should be, a light hearted spy thriller. With the style and elegance of the 1960’s, it's the film that brought us all of the hallmark Bond moments we have grown to love. There is a camp villain, beautiful girls, epic car chases and fight scenes, superb tailoring and of course the famous vodka martini, shaken not stirred. What is there not to like?

According to IMDb, this was not originally supposed to be the inaugural Bond film, but after some legal problems it was chosen because of its simple and straightforward storyline and because it was set in only one location.

From the moment that you first see Sean Connery you know that you are seeing everything you know about James Bond being brought to life. His devilish good looks, amazing body and suave accent will make any women or gay man slightly crumble at the knees. But it’s not until at least 8mins into the film where we meet James Bond who is playing cards in a swanky hotel. With the first minute of us meeting him, he has already organised his next shag, thats even quicker than a gay man who is constantly on Grindr.

Even though he was first choice of James Bond, for me, I think he pulls it off really well. The reason that producers chose him was because he was a big tough looking man who moved gracefully on screen. Another interesting fact I found out was that Sean Connery wears a toupee in all James Bond films he was in.

Dr. No was also a great villain with a sea base layer set out in the most modern 60’s style. What a great villain he is with his elaborate and extravagant schemes for SPECTRE.

The arrival of Ursula Andress from the sea in a white bikini will always be an iconic moment and setting the standard for all Bond girls to come. Her acting might not have been great, but he voice actually dubbed by another actress, who also dubbed the voice for many women in the film, apart from Moneypenny.

For me, I think that Moneypenny is the only women who really sees the real James Bond. He jokes and is flirty with her, but she knows he is full of broken promises. She is a strong women though and doesn’t get caught up in his false promises.

Even though this was the first time I’ve seen this film, I have to say that I loved it. I liked the story and felt from the beginning that we were really immersed into James Bond’s world. It’s going to be interesting to see what they do next...

I give this an 8/10, but maybe I’ve marked it too high for the first film?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Steve Whiting